Bending threshold and release for a flexible display device

Abstract

A flexible display device and a method for accurately recognizing a user's flex input bending of the flexible display device is described. The present invention is able to discard unintentional flexing of the flexible display device while being able to accurately recognize a user's intended flex input command based on a number of bending degree thresholds. A first bending threshold must be overcome in order to initially recognize a user's flex input as a valid flex input command. Then the user's flex input must fall below a second bending threshold in order to cease the recognition of the user's flex input as a valid flex input.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for detecting a bend on a flexible display device having a display unit for displaying images, the method comprising:
 detecting, by the flexible display device, a first bend of a first direction on the flexible display device and measuring a first degree of the first bend; 
 recognizing the first bend as a first valid flex input when the measured first degree surpasses a first error threshold value; and 
 recognizing an end of the first valid flex input when the measured first degree falls below a first release threshold value, 
 wherein a maximum degree of bend measured during the first bend is recognized as a first peak value, 
 wherein the first error threshold value is determined based on a degree before the flexible display device is bent, and the first release threshold value is determined based on the first peak value, and 
 wherein the first release threshold value is greater than the first error threshold value. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first release error threshold value is determined by adding a predetermined number of units to the degree before the flexible display device is bent. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first release threshold value is determined by decreasing a predetermined number of units from the first peak value. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting a second bend of the first direction on the flexible display device following the end of the first valid flex input, and measuring a second degree of the second bend; 
 recognizing the second bend as a second valid flex input when the measured second degree surpasses a second error threshold value: and 
 recognizing an end of the second valid flex input when the measured second degree falls below a second release threshold value. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein a valid double flex input is recognized if the second valid flex input is recognized within a predetermined time following the end of the first valid flex input. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the recognition of the valid double flex input is predetermined to execute a specific function of the flexible display device. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 4 , wherein a valid double flex input is recognized if the second valid flex input ends within a predetermined time following the end of the first valid flex input. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the recognition of the valid double flex input is predetermined to execute a specific function of the flexible display device. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second error threshold value is determined based on a degree at a point where the second bend begins. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 4 , wherein a maximum degree of bend measured during the second bend is recognized as a second peak value. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second release threshold value is determined based on the second peak value. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10  wherein the second release threshold value is determined by decreasing a predetermined number of units from the second peak value. 
     
     
       13. A flexible display device, comprising:
 a display unit configured to display images, and having a flexible portion; 
 a sensing unit configured to detect a first bend of a first direction on the flexible portion and measure a first degree of the first bend on the flexible portion; and 
 a system controller configured to recognize the first bend as a first valid flex input when the measured first degree surpasses a first error threshold value, and to recognize an end of the first valid flex input when the measured first degree falls below a first release threshold value, 
 wherein a maximum degree of bend measured during the first bend is recognized as a first peak value, 
 wherein the first error threshold value is determined based on a degree before the flexible display device is bent, and the first release threshold value is determined based on the first peak value, and 
 wherein the first release threshold value is greater than the first error threshold value. 
 
     
     
       14. The flexible display device of  claim 13 , wherein the first error threshold value is determined by adding a predetermined number of units to the degree before the flexible display device is bent. 
     
     
       15. The flexible display device of  claim 13 , wherein the first release threshold value is determined by decreasing a predetermined number of units from the first peak value. 
     
     
       16. The flexible display device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the sensing unit is further configured to detect a second bend of the first direction on the flexible portion following the end to of the first valid flex input, and measure a second degree of the second bend, and 
 the system controller is further configured to recognize the second bend as a second valid flex input when the measured second degree surpasses a second error threshold value, and also recognize an end of the second valid flex input when the measured second degree falls below a second release threshold value. 
 
     
     
       17. The flexible display device of  claim 16 , wherein a valid double flex input is recognized if the second valid flex input is recognized within a predetermined time following the end of the first valid flex input. 
     
     
       18. The flexible display device of  claim 17 , wherein the recognition of the valid double flex input is predetermined to execute a specific function of the flexible display device. 
     
     
       19. The flexible display device of  claim 16 , wherein a valid double flex input is recognized if the second valid flex input ends within a predetermined time following the end of the first valid flex input. 
     
     
       20. The flexible display device of  claim 19 , wherein the recognition of the valid double flex input is predetermined to execute a specific function of the flexible display device. 
     
     
       21. The flexible display device of  claim 16 , wherein the second error threshold value is determined based on a degree at a point where second bend begins. 
     
     
       22. The flexible display device of  claim 16 , wherein a maximum degree of bend measured during the second bend is recognized as a second peak value. 
     
     
       23. The flexible display device of  claim 22 , wherein the second release threshold value is determined based on the second peak value. 
     
     
       24. The flexible display device of  claim 22 , wherein the second release threshold value is determined by decreasing a predetermined number of units from the second peak value. 
     
     
       25. A method for detecting a bend on a flexible display device having a display unit for displaying images, the method comprising:
 detecting, by the flexible display device, a first bend of a first direction on the flexible display device and measuring a first degree of the first bend; 
 recognizing the first bend as a first valid flex input when the measured first degree surpasses a first error threshold value; 
 recognizing an end of the first valid flex input when the measured first degree falls below a first release threshold value; 
 detecting a second bend of the first direction on the flexible display device and measuring a second degree of the second bend; 
 recognizing the second bend as a second valid flex input when the measured second degree surpasses a second error threshold value; 
 recognizing a valid double flex input when the second valid flex input is recognized within a predetermined amount of time following the recognition of the first valid flex input; and 
 recognizing an end of the second valid flex input When the measured second degree falls below a second release threshold value, 
 wherein a maximum degree of bend measured during the first bend is recognized as a first peak value, 
 wherein the first error threshold value is determined based on a degree before the flexible display device is bent, and the first release threshold value is determined based on the first peak value, 
 wherein a maximum degree of bend measured during the second bend is recognized as a second peak value, and 
 wherein the second error threshold value is determined based on a degree at a point where the second bend begins, and the second release threshold value is determined based on the second peak value. 
 
     
     
       26. A flexible display device, comprising:
 a display unit configured to display images, and haying a flexible portion; 
 a sensing unit configured to detect a first bend of a first direction on the flexible portion and measure a first degree of the first bend, and to detect a second bend of the first direction on the flexible portion and measure a second degree of the second bend; and 
 a system controller configured to 
 recognize the first bend as a first valid flex input when the measured first degree surpasses a first error threshold value, 
 recognize an end of the first valid flex input when the measured first degree falls below a first release threshold value, 
 recognize a second valid flex input when the measured second degree surpasses a second error threshold value, and 
 recognizing an end of the second valid flex input when the measured second degree falls below a second release threshold value, 
 wherein a valid double flex input is recognized when the second valid flex input is recognized within a predetermined amount of time following the recognition of the first valid flex input, 
 wherein a maximum degree of bend measured during the first bend is recognized as a first peak value, 
 wherein the first error threshold value is determined based on a degree before the flexible display device is bent, and the first release threshold value is determined based on the first peak value, 
 wherein a maximum degree of bend measured during the second bend is recognized as a second peak value, and 
 wherein the second error threshold value is determined based on a degree at a point where the second bend begins, and the second release threshold value is determined based on the second peak value.